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Watch Center Participation Agreements | January '99 |
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By year’s end, the Northwest HIDTA received signed Participation Agreements from thirty-three drug enforcement agencies signaling their intention to improve officer safety through the deconfliction process. The intent of the deconfliction system is to ensure that agencies are not targeting each other or unknowingly intruding into another agency’s tactical event. Each agency agreed to train their enforcement personnel and implement procedures whereby their investigators do the following: Register their investigative subjects in the WSIN system through the HIDTA’s Watch Center or by using their WSIN RISSGATE system if installed in their office computer; telephone the Watch Center before departing on a Critical Event. Critical Events are any drug-related field activity and include drug buys, buy-busts, surveillances, drug raids, money laundering pickups, informant meetings, etc. Some drug enforcement units have revamped their tactical Operations Order form and placed Watch Center notification as the first item to be accomplished. As of this writing, we have logged over 265 Critical Events phoned into the Watch Center. Fortunately, there have not been any Conflicts noted. A Conflict is where two agencies are working against each other, such as one investigator selling drugs to another. There have been occasions where two agencies are working on the same criminal subject. Under WSIN policies, each agency is notified of an inquiry on their subject and is referred to the inquiring investigator. By working cooperatively and sharing data, we can accomplish more. If any agency would like an in-person briefing on the
deconfliction process, contact the Watch Center at (206) 394-3666 or Jerry Adams at
206-394-3647. |
